Electric iron plug and receptacle therefor



Jan. 39 1i94@ I J. P. WALPOLE 2,188,617

ELECTRIC IRON PLUG AND RECEPTACLE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 18, 1938 EN 022/ i ATTORNEYS Patented 30, 1940 2,188,817 Emc'mlo moN PLUG-AND nncar'raom 'rnaaaron John P. Walpole, Bronx, N. Y. Application February 18, 1938, Serial No. 191,320

1 Claim.

ing from the handle portion thereof. This type' of structure is characterized by several disadvantages, notably, the cable, though flexible, in-

15 terferes with the work of the user by getting in the path of the moving iron, by entangling with itself, 'with the work being ironed, etc. Further, the continuous flexing of the cable through movement of the iron causes breaks therein which in some instances can result in a tire hazard due to arcing. Breaks are especially likely to occur at the junction between cable and plug, inasmuch as during the use of an iron it is often necessary for the user to disconnect the power source from the iron, which is usually done by pulling the plug out. I

Among the other disadvantages with electrical units of the type referred to can be included that no means are provided for indicating whether 3G or not a device is connected to a power source whereby burning out of the resistance element in the iron often occurs through inadvertent failure to disconnect the unit from the power source when not in use.

35 It is among the objects of the present invention provide a new and improved connector plug adapted to be used with at least most types of irons as now made which, functioning in conjunction with a new and improved receptacle,

4. serves to provide means for supplying power to an electric iron when the latter is positioned adjacent the receptacle but not at other times and, iurther, provides means for visibly indicating when the electric iron is connected to the 45 power source. It will be observed that in this manner the use of a plug in a connector cable directly connected to the iron and moving therewith, is obviated, thereby avoiding the diillculties hereinabove referred to of devices heretofore known.

It also an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved type of connector plug and receptacle therefor, wherein arcing 55 between the plug contacts and the receptacle of electrical contact is made, will be at least in a large measure minimized.

Notable among the features of the device according to the present invention are that it provides a visibly displaying means for indicating 5 electrical connection between the power source and the iron; that the iron during use is normally dissociated from the power source; that the novel plug and adapter receptacle according to the present invention can be used in conjunction with at least most types of irons now in use; that current-carrying terminals are concealed within insulative structures, whereby accidental sh'ort-circuiting of the line by the user or shocking of the user. is at least minimized; and that the novel plug receptacle according to the present invention is formed of relatively few parts which are easily fabricated and assembled whereby concomitant economies in production and maintenance can be effected.

' Other objects, advantages and features of the device according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art during the course of the following description wherein a specific embodiment of the present invention,

vherein illustrated, will be described, it being clearly understood however, that the illustrated preferred embodiment is given solely by way of example and is non-limitative.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the plug and adapter receptacle arranged for use in conjunction with a saddle iron and stand therefor;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector plug according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is substantially a vertical sectional view of the device illustrated in Fig. 2, taken along 0 the line 3-3, portions of the saddle iron being shown in phantom;

Fig. 4 is substantially a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 4-4;

Fig. 5 is substantially a vertical sectional view of Fig. 4 taken along the line 5-5, and

Fig. 6 is substantially a schematic wiring diagram showing interconnection of the iron and parts of the iron rest.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects the present invention comprises a novel combination of plug and adapter receptacle therefor. The

plug comprises a member adapted to engage with, and be carried by, the projecting connectorterminals 01' an iron or similar device and arranged, so

when so carried, to present a pair of horizontally disposed projecting plug terminals electrically connected to the terminals of said iron. The adapter receptacle comprises means for receiving said horizontally disposed projecting connector members of said plug and means connected with the power supply whereby under certain conditions current delivered from said power supply can be transmitted to said means associated with said plug, and means for visibly indicating when said electrical connection between power source and plug terminals is made.

In order to facilitate a fuller and clearer understanding of the matter of the present invention, a specific illustrated preferred embodiment thereof will be hereinafter described, corresponding reference characters being used throughout the several figures to designate equivalent or the same parts.

A saddle iron of typical design is generally designated by the numeral l0 and comprises a handle portion, part of which is designated at H, and connector plug supporting means comprising the parts generally indicated at l2 and I3, the latter serving, in conjunction with the member II, to support the handle hereinbefore referred to. The members I2 and I3 jointly serve as supporting means for the connector plug generally designated at M which, in a manner hereinafter to be described, engages and cooperates withadapter receptacle portions generally indicated at l5 of the base or stand member Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 wherein the details of the novel plug according to the presentv invention are best illustrated, it will be observed that the plug proper comprises an obliquely disposed portion 20, adapted to engage with terminals of the iron, and supporting means generally'designated at 2| presenting a pair of proadapted to engage with terminals and are arranged in spaced relationship with respect to each other to correspond with the uniform and standard spacing between terminals on electric irons, thereby permitting use of the plug in conjunction with standard equipment. The upper portion of the electrically insulated block is formed to present a pair of extending arm-like members 29 and 30, substantially as shown in Fig. 2, the free ends of said arms 29 and 30 being united to provide the terminal supporting portion generally designated at 2|. It will be observed that an opening 3| is defined by the arms 29 and 30, said opening being provided to permit use of the plug with certain types of irons having upwardly projecting plug supporting members l2, said member l2 being adapted to pass through said opening 3| whereby the plug when positioned upon the iron presents substantially the appearance shown in Fig. 1. Elections of the arms 29 and 30 and serve to con-.

nect the horizontally positioned projecting plug elements 22 and 23 with the terminals of the iron. In order to provide a more rugged construction of the plug generally designated at H, A it is preferred that supporting members 4|] and 4| be provided, being formed as indicated at 40a and lla respectively, to conform with the outline of the portion 20 of the member l4 and being formed atportions 40b and MD to conform with portion 2| of said member and held in position by means including a screw 42 and wing nut 43. It will be apparent when the plug is positioned upon an iron in the manner indicated in Fig.1, that the horizontally positioned projecting terminals 22 and 23 will be electrically connected to the terminals of the iron proper and, accordingly, when electrical power is supplied to said terminals 22 and 23, said iron will function.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 wherein the adapter receptacle I5 is best illustrated, it will be noted that it comprises a substantially hemi-cylindrical casing member closed at one end by a wall -5| and having an opening formed in the other wall 52 alignable with the plug elementcarrying portion 2| of the plug I4 when the iron used in conjunction with said plug is positioned on the base plate 53 and the stand generally indicated at IS. A receptacle 54 is provided in one side of the casing 50 and is adapted to receive a connector plug of conventional type, terminals generally indicated at 55 being provided within said receptacle and adapted to engage with said plug in substantially the usual manner. Said terminals 55 are mounted in a block 56 formed of electrically insulative material which is sup-' ported within the hollow casing member 50 substantially as shown. Another portion of the block 56 is hollowed out to form a chamber 51 having openings formed in the upper portion thereof alignable with pins 22 and 23 when said plug I4 is carried upon an iron in the manner hereinbefore described. Movable contact members 60 and 6| pivoted within the chamber 51 by means including pins 58 engaging with openings in portions of the block 56 and with openings in.

a partition 62 therein, are positioned adjacent the openings formed in the upper portion of the chamber 51 hereinbefore alluded to. The upper parts of said members 60 and 6|, indicated at 600 and 6|a respectively, are flared to present liplike members adapted to receive the projecting plug portions 22 and 23 of the plug l4 when positioned substantially as shown in Fig. 1. Lower portions of said members 6012 and 6 I b, respectively, of the members 60 and SI are flared to receive and engage with terminals one of which is designated at 63 positioned adjacent thereto substantially as shown in Fig. 5, said terminals being associated by electrically conductive members with the terminals 55- connected to the power source; I 2

It will be noted that when terminals 22 and 23 are engaged with portions 60d and 6|a of the members 60 and GI respectively, and when the portions 60b and 6|b of said members engage with the terminals, one ofwhich is indicated at 63, the electric iron connected with plug I4 is placed in electrical circuit with the power source. The members 60 and 6| are normally dissociated from the terminals, one of which is designated at 63, by means including a spring-tensioning member 64 connected to a portion of the electrically insulative block 56 and connected to a crosspiece 65 held in portions of the members 60 and. 6|, whereby said tensioning means 64 normally tends to impart counter-clockwise rotative movementtotbemembers IIandII whentheparts are positioned substantially as shown. Thus, it will be seen. although the power source is connected stall times to the terminals, one oi which isdesignatedatII,thatitisnecessarytoimpart rotative movement to the members II and II as, for example, by pressing the projecting horizontally positioned members 22 and II into the portions IIa and IIa thereof in order to complete the circuit between power source and the device associated with the plug II.

As hereinbeiore mentioned, means are provided in accordance withthe present invention for visibly displaying and indicating electrical connection between power source and iron. This means comprises a lamp II mounted in a socket II and connected by means of electrically conductive members I! and 'II to terminals II and II, respectively, mounted in a portionof the block II and disposed within the chamber II adjacent but behind the members II and II, whereby as said members II and II are'rot'ated the back portions thereof abut against 'and form electrical contacts withsaid members 'II'and II thereby placing said lamp II in parallel electrical circuit. Accordingly, it will be noted that when an iron II provided-with a plug II associated in the manner illustrated'in Fig. l, is positioned with projectlngterminals 22 and II engaging with portions IIa and Ila oi the members II and II that the lamp II placed in parallel electrical circuit including the said electric iron will indicate completion 0! the circuit between the power source and' said electric iron. It will be noted when the terminals 22 and II of the connector plug II are not engaged as" aforesaid with the portions IIa and Ila oi the members II and II, that said members will be moved out of contact with the terminals II and II by means including the spring-tensioning means II and the crossplece II, thereby dissociating the lamp II from the electrical circuit with the power source and visibly indicating dissociation oi' the said iron II from the power source. 7

In the preferred embodiment oiflthe present invention an opening isprovlded in the casing II adjacent the lamp II wherein is mounted a colored translucent or transparent port III, whereby light from said lamp passes through said port to visibly indicategconnection between power source and device to the user as aforesaid.

The electrical interconnection of the elements of the iron rest and the iron will be obviousfrom consideration 01 Fig. 6 wherein for convenience the above described parts oi the device are designated by corresponding reference characters.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing oi? the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not aflect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An iron rest connected to a source of electric power cobperating with horizontally projecting terminal lugs of the iron plug to permit transier of electric power to said iron which comprises a standard having openings formed therein registerable with and adapted to receive said horizontally positioned projecting lugs, a hair 0! terminal plates mounted within said standard adjacent said openings and connected to a source of electric power, a pair of pivoted electrically conductive arms positioned adjacent said openings adapted to engage with and be moved by said lugs when pushed through said openings engaging with said terminal plates whereby electric power can be conducted from said source to said device, said arms when dissociated from said lugs being moved by means including a spring-pressed yoke out of contact with said terminal plates, and means for visibly indicating completion of electrical circuit including power source and device, which comprises a pilot lamp and contact forming members electrically connected to said lamp, said members being engageable with said pivoted arms when moved into contact with said terminal plates whereby said pilot lamp is electri- JOHN P. 

